J. V. Stalin
TROOPS of the 3rd Baltic Front with the direct support of the troops of the 2nd Baltic Front, developing their successful offensive, to-day, October 13, captured by storm the capital of Soviet Latvia, the city of Riga, an important naval base and powerful German defence centre in the Baltic.
In the fighting for the capture of the city of Riga distinction was won by troops commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Romanovsky, Col.-Gen. Belov, Lieut.-Gen. Zakhvatayev, Lieut.-Gen. Roginsky, Col.-Gen. Kazakov, Lieut.-Gen. Korotkov, Maj.-Gen. Rezhdestvensky, the Latvian Corps under the command of Maj.-Gen. Brantkaln, Maj.-Gen. Mikisnin, Maj.-Gen. Verzhbitsky, Maj.-Gen. Siyazov, Lieut.-Gen. Khalusin, Maj.-Gen. Bunkov, Maj.-Gen. Martynchuk, Col. Abashin, Lieut.-Gen. Khoruzenko, Maj.-Gen. Stuchenko, Maj.-Gen. Kuleshov, Maj.-Gen. Vakhrameyev, Maj.-Gen. Lyaskin, Maj.-Gen. Polyakov, Maj.-Gen. Rodionov, Col. Nikonorov, Col. Tsetlya, Col. Mironenko, Col. Barshukov, Col. Simonov, Col. Gorodetsky, Col. Dudorov, Col. Kuchenev, Maj.-Gen. Makarov, Col. Basteyev, Col. Andonyev, Maj.-Gen. Gorishnii, Maj.-Gen. Shafarenko, Maj.-Gen. Kozhin, Maj.-Gen. Burlakin, Maj.-Gen. Rebrikov, Col. Moretsky, Col. Lomov, Col. Morozov, Col. Lazarev, Maj.-Gen. Isayev, Col. Kolobutin, Maj.-Gen. Andrushchenko, Col. Chernichenko, Maj.-Gen. Gribov, Maj.-Gen. Gusarov, Maj.-Gen. Kalnin, Col. Kovalenko, Col. Kalnin, Col. Kozlov, Col. Timoshenko, Col. Porfinov and Col. Starulchin; Artillerymen commanded by Col.-Gen. of Artillery Krasnopevtsev, Col.-Gen. of Artillery Nickhov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Ovchinnikov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Yegorov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Levin, Col. Shlepin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Rogozin, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kharlamov, Maj.-Gen. of Artillery Kulikov, Col. Ponomarenko, Col. Pumpur, Col. Ivanov, Col. Kolosov, Col. Degtyarenko, Col. Kamorny, Lieut.-Col. Yegorov, Col. Skurikhin and Col. Ivashchenko; Tankmen commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Kolosov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Shaposhnikov, Maj.-Gen. of Tank Troops Sakhno, Col. Ivanovich, Col. Ovsyannikov, Lieut.-Gen. Mzhachikh, Lieut.-Col. Fedorov, Lieut.-Col. Khomenko, Lieut.-Col. Kiselev; Airmen commanded by Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Zhuravlev, Col.-Gen. of Aviation Naumenko, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Yukhanov, Lieut.Gen. of Aviation Nestertsov, Lieut.-Gen. of Aviation Buyansky, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Danilov, Maj.-Gen. of Aviation Lebedev, Col. Dodonov, Col. Andreyev, Lieut.-Col. Podmogilnov, Col. Polushko, Lieut.-Col. Kulish, Lieut.-Col. Zolochevsky, Maj. Yakovlev, Lieut.-Col. Rasskazov and Capt. Neuimin; Sappers commanded by Maj.-Gen. Kirchevsky, Maj.-Col. Pelipets, Maj.-Gen. of Engineering Troops Chepurov, Col. Sergeyev, Col. Poshekhontsev, Col. Rogovich, Col. Pavshuk, Col. Marchak, Lieut.-Col. Sobolev, Lieut.-Col. Anglichanov and Maj. Karpunenko; Signallers commanded by Maj.-Gen. of Signals Troops Sinclnikov, Maj.-Gen. of Signals Troops Panin, Col. Korplyakov, Col. Sokolov, Lieut.-Col. Drobkis, Lieut.-Col. Brandelis, Lieut.-Col. Mekensin and Maj. Kosobokov.
To commemorate the victory the units and formations which particularly distinguished themselves in the fighting for the capture of the city of Riga will be recommended for conferment of the name “Riga” and award of Orders.
To-day, October 13, at 23.00 hours (Moscow time) the capital of our Motherland, Moscow, in the name of the Motherland will salute with 24 artillery salvoes from 324 guns our gallant troops of the 3rd and 2nd Baltic Fronts, including the Latvian Corps commanded by Maj.-Gen. Brantkaln, which captured the capital of Soviet Latvia, the city of Riga.
For excellent military operations I express my thanks to all the troops under your command which took part in the fighting for the liberation of the city of Riga.
Eternal glory to the heroes who fell in the fighting for the freedom and independence of our Motherland! Death to the German invaders!
J. Stalin
Supreme Commander-in-Chief
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Moscow